I'm in Goodland, Kansas, charging at an RV park while I wait for a big-ass line of T-storms to overrun my goal for the night, Wakeeney, KS. The car has done well: I would have made it well over 300 miles on the charge I left home with, but the wx radar returns are ugly and the headwinds suddenly got fierce.

On the subject of RC, Chandler was hyped up today about getting a beginner "park flyer" today. Against my better judgement, we bought a Super Cub that was supposed to be indestructible. 3/4 of a day fiddling with it, ten minutes of "flight" and it was in a $300 smoking hole. Why does one do things when one already has a very clear picture of the likely outcome?

Maybe because it is really hard not to become a kid again yourself when spending time with grandchildren?

Mark

USM ISRegistered: Apr 12, 2010Total Posts: 1699Country: United States

JWilsonphoto wrote:
On the subject of RC, Chandler was hyped up today about getting a beginner "park flyer" today. Against my better judgement, we bought a Super Cub that was supposed to be indestructible. 3/4 of a day fiddling with it, ten minutes of "flight" and it was in a $300 smoking hole. Why does one do things when one already has a very clear picture of the likely outcome?

Just gift him the software simulator, then when he gets good, get the real deal. One of the few instances I have found where software for learning pays for itself VERY quickly, IMHO

Loving the conversations, even though I've not been able to shoot many planes, what with the final week of summer semester coming up... Two courses complete, an A in one, and a B in the other, 3 more classes to finish up next week, and getting ready to breath a big sigh of relief for all of a week to recuperate from surgery on the 9th.

Nothing major, just having permanent tubes installed this time around.

If I didn't have plans for tomorrow after school (pre-op work), I'd go to the museum and check this out:

JWilsonphoto wrote:
On the subject of RC, Chandler was hyped up today about getting a beginner "park flyer" today. Against my better judgement, we bought a Super Cub that was supposed to be indestructible. 3/4 of a day fiddling with it, ten minutes of "flight" and it was in a $300 smoking hole. Why does one do things when one already has a very clear picture of the likely outcome?

It reminds me of a saying that, though meant for a different subject entirely, seems to fit this as well. "Like a moth to a flame" Also don't think of the $300 hole, if you had quality time with the kiddos, that is what counts.

AngryRegistered: Nov 08, 2011Total Posts: 1216Country: Australia

JWilsonphoto wrote:
On the subject of RC, Chandler was hyped up today about getting a beginner "park flyer" today. Against my better judgement, we bought a Super Cub that was supposed to be indestructible. 3/4 of a day fiddling with it, ten minutes of "flight" and it was in a $300 smoking hole. Why does one do things when one already has a very clear picture of the likely outcome?

Rodolfo Paiz wrote:gerov wrote:
you would be crazy not to spend a day in Yosemite - it is truly beautiful. And while you're at it, stop by Sequoia National Park, or at least make a point of seeing the Sequoias in Yosemite. Truly majestic trees.

Plan your lodging now, as in right this very minute. Things usually fill up 6-8 months in advance (sometimes 10-11 months for summer reservations), and you'll probably find little-to-nothing available. Some of the places around the parks are dumps beyond belief: for example, stay the hell away from the "Yosemite View Lodge" based on my (shudder) personal experience, and don't ask for details... you don't want to know.

Plan out your driving times, too... those are long distances and the travel times quoted by Google Maps or Yahoo maps will seem very long to you, as though you could drive faster, but the elevation and nature of the roads mean you travel more slowly than on an open, level highway.

Agreed, Yosemite View Lodge is pretty awful (based on personal experience) it's just a dormitory really and the restaurant is dire (but experience says restaurants within parks aren't much better (with the posssible exception of Grand Tovar in Grand Canyon - Wuksachi Lodge restaurant in Sequoia was truly terrible food and service but a great location). However, Yosemite View Lodge IS very very convenient for the Valley and tthere aren't many other places to stay.
Niall

Got a couple of fun days planned in Charlotte attending the Goodguys nationals & visiting a few racecar shops...

LA for 2 days then Yosemite road trip for 3 days then Las Vegas & SEMA for 6 days.

Of course the best part will be MA2A get together & Alliance. Cant wait to finally meet up...B25 Flight will be a bucket list thing for me,...you guys can get one anytime, ...we dont have any downunder. Pixels will be harvested.

Got a few responses about Yosemite's terrible accommodation .....
Seems they have you for ransom there...If it weren't for the view the general agreement is no-one would go there..
Healthy competition is a good thing

WreiRegistered: Aug 01, 2008Total Posts: 2939Country: United States

Be prepared for some Aussie surprises..

Al

Having enjoyed the antics by our northern neighbors (Royal Canadian Air Force Pilots) I would not be shocked by any Aussie surprises!

Another story. William Tell weapons meet at Tyndall AFB. The Canadians land, park their jets, then as they egress their cockpits, they are wearing tuxedoes with bare feet. (I was told the base commander wanted to send them home until he was reminded they were guest, not USAF.) They stayed and provided much entertainment...as usual.

AngryRegistered: Nov 08, 2011Total Posts: 1216Country: Australia

We Australians may be considered by the English as,....slightly informal,...
But no shoes ??,...never !

Nice images of Yosemite Niall.
Been there many times as it was only 3.5 hr drive from my home for 25+ years.

The tallest point at the end of the tunnel image is Clouds Rest. It can also be seen to the right Half Dome in the image from Glacier Point. If you ever want a challenging day hike with spectacular views of ALL of Yosemite, that is the place to go. You can look down on Half Dome from there. Like Half Dome, you must obey the weather when thinking about going up there as the top is extremely narrow and the falls are fatal. My 11 yr old son and I did the hike one day, about 15 miles round trip from Tenaya Lake and moderate vertical. It is very tough, unless acclimated to 8k feet, but rewarding.

I have some point-n-shoot shots from the top somewhere in my archives.

I almost always either did day trips or backpacked in and stayed a few nights. I stayed once in the drive-in camp sites and did not like it. The beauty that can be seen by car only gets better when you put on your hiking boots and backpack and start walking.

Only been there once - too many other places to go, my wife says, but I'd love to go back - Yellowstone and Grand Teton next year though - difficult place to get to from the UK as no direct flights to Jackson Hole. I'd like to do Monterey & Big Sur again too, as we didn't have long enough, just one day for each!
Niall